Signing a Listing Agreement with Your Real Estate Agent

What goes into a seller’s listing agreement with a real estate agent.

A “listing agreement” is a contract between a real estate agent (the listing agent) and a seller that says that the agent has the right to list (advertise and handle the sale of) your house. It’s important to understand the terms of the agreement, because you’ll be bound by them. And while a listing agreement is good for the agent, because it obligates you to work with the agent for at least a minimum amount of time, it also protects you, the seller, by explaining the agent’s responsibilities and what you can do if he or she doesn’t meet them.

Key Terms of Home Listing Agreements

Here are some of the most important terms covered by a real estate listing agreement.

Exclusive right to sell. This gives your agent has the exclusive right to sell your property for the duration of the agreement. Other types of arrangements with an agent are possible, but the exclusive arrangement will be your agent’s first choice.

Duration. Your listing agreement will last for a set amount of time, such as three or six months. From your perspective, a shorter listing agreement is better. If you don’t like the agent’s services, you can walk away and choose a different agent. (And if you're happy, renewing should be easy.) Of course, from the agent’s perspective, a longer listing agreement is preferable, because the agent is going to do a lot of work to get the house ready to sell, and won’t want to risk losing a commission just as the property is starting to garner some real interest.

Safety or protection clause. Even though the contract has an expiration date, it will probably also include a clause that protects the agent or broker after that date. This prevents you from trying to avoid paying an agent’s commission by finding a buyer while you’re represented by the agent, but waiting to conduct the sale until your listing agreement expires. You’ll want an exception if you are ending the contract because you decide to change listing agents, however—if that agent sells quickly and your clause entitles the first agent to a cut, you could owe two commissions.

Duties. The agreement may lay out the activities the agent is authorized to conduct on your behalf. Read through the list carefully, making sure you understand everything. If there are specific duties you want to require of the agent—for example, listing the property on the MLS, posting a yard sign, or creating a listing sheet—specify those as well.

Representations.The agreement may also require you to verify certain facts—for instance, that you’re in a legal position to sell the property and that to your knowledge no one else has an ownership interest in it.

Dispute resolution. The agreement will probably specify how you will handle disputes that you can’t work out informally, such as through mediation or binding arbitration.

Agents may resist changing their standard agreements, having used them many times in the past without incident. Nevertheless, if you’re uncomfortable with something, there’s no reason it can’t be changed. Small changes can be written right on the contract (make sure you get a copy), and large changes can be added on separate addendums and referred to in the contract itself (there’s usually a space for additional terms; here you can refer to the addendum).